The solutions (
χnlm) of the Schrödinger equation for the hydrogen atom contain the term exp(
imϕ). When
m = 0, functions
χnlm are real, however, in the cases of
m ≠ 0, functions
χnlm are complex. Probability density distribution of
χ320,
χ32±1, or
χ32±2 was sculptured in a glass block (Figure 1). Each picture is symmetric about the
z axis. It was compared with 3-D isosurface model such as Figure 2. By taking linear combinations of
χ32+1 and
χ32−1, it is known to obtain the real atomic orbitals
χ3dzx and
χ3dyz. Similarly, from
χ32±2 and
χ32−2, the real atomic orbitals
χ3dx2-y2 and
χ3dxy are obtained. In this paper, this mathematical process is graphically visualized (Figure 3). The "doughnut(s)" are sliced by plane(s) containing the
z axis. The number of the plane(s) equals the |
m| value. As the plane is a nodal plane, by rounding the edge and attaching positive or negative sign to each lobe, the familiar "clover" type orbital is obtained. Probability density distribution in the 3-dimensional representation of hydrogen four 3d orbitals thus obtained was sculptured in a glass block (Figure 4). Isosurface models (Figure 3, bottom) can hardly show the entire region where an electron can be found. On the other hand, in the diagram of probability density distribution models (Figure 4), an electron is found everywhere around the nucleus. Number of conical nodes together with planar nodes in hydrogen 3d atomic orbitals is summarized in Table 1.
View full abstract